Reading 1-0 Blackburn: Brian McDermott wins first game in charge

Reading ended a run of four successive Sky Bet Championship defeats in new manager Brian McDermott's first match back in charge at the Madejski Stadium, with a 1-0 victory over Blackburn on Sunday afternoon.

Blackburn, who lost for the first time in nine games, were undone early on when a spectacular long-range strike from midfielder Danny Williams flew high into goalkeeper Jason Steele's net.

McDermott first spell in charge of Reading ended in March 2013 and in his three years in charge, he led the club to a Championship play-off final, a Championship title and two FA Cup quarter-finals.

He returned, replacing the dismissed Steve Clarke, with Reading having slipped to 14th place in the division after a miserable run of just one win in 10 matches. In October, they had sat in equal second position.

Blackburn manager Paul Lambert arrived at Ewood Park last month, taking over from Gary Bowyer, and enjoyed immediate success. Rovers were unbeaten in Lambert's first five games, taking their undefeated tally to eight in total.

They started the better here, too, with Craig Conway delivering a low cross from the right that no team-mate was able to get on the end of.

Ben Marshall then capitalised on an error by Paul McShane only to drag his shot wide of the mark.

Fode Koita rose alone in the home area to meet a Conway free kick, but, with the whole goal to aim at, he headed tamely over.

It was to prove a costly miss, with Reading going in front in the 11th minute. Hal Robson-Kanu flicked on a pass from Chris Gunter for Williams to run on to.

The United States midfielder took a few paces forward before, from 20 yards and at an angle, unleashing the fiercest of strikes that caught Steele by surprise as it flashed into the net.

Blackburn gradually regained their composure, but lacked direction when going forward.

Marshall sent a free-kick wastefully over the crossbar from a good position, while home keeper Jonathan Bond saved well from a well-struck effort from former Reading midfielder Hope Akpan.

Reading opened more adventurously in the second half, with Williams taking advantage of a fortuitous ricochet off referee Peter Banks to test Steele with a low 20-yard attempt.

Steele was in action again soon after, saving well to deny Robson-Kanu and doing the same to keep out a similar effort from Garath McCleary.

Blackburn were penned back, but, on a rare break, Jordan Rhodes blazed over from a promising opportunity after the home defence had failed to clear their lines.

Reading swiftly replied, with lively substitute Ola John twice cutting in from the left and unleashing shots on target. But Steele was again up to the task, making confident stops.

Blackburn did stage a late rally, but Bond saved well from Koita and Reading held on for a much-needed victory.